🎶 Getting to Know You
A MiniDisc by Olaf Kroezen
Hi there,
My name is Olaf Kroezen, I’m 48 years old, and I live in a small village called Didam, in the Netherlands. I’m married to Jocelijne, and we have two wonderful children, aged 21 and 16. Music has been with me for as long as I can remember, it’s the thread that runs through every part of my life.
My dad used to joke: “If only you knew your schoolwork as well as you know all those song lyrics!” He wasn’t wrong, I could remember entire albums word for word, but never a math formula. Music just clicked with me in a way nothing else did. It’s always been my comfort, my escape, and my inspiration.
There isn’t a single day that passes without music. It’s what I turn to when I need peace, when I need energy, or when I just need to feel something real. My taste is broad, I can appreciate so many styles, but I’ll admit, modern music sometimes leaves me searching for the gems among the noise. Everything tends to sound a bit too similar, as if the soul has gone missing. Still, when you dig deep enough, you find the real treasures, songs that were made with love and craft.
I’m also a bit of an audiophile. I care deeply about how music sounds. I’ve built my own setup carefully, piece by piece, and it’s something I’m proud of. I can sit in front of it for hours, just listening, losing myself in every detail, every tone, every breath in a recording.
So when I heard about this MiniDisc swap, I immediately wanted to take part. I loved the idea of introducing myself through music, sixteen songs that show who I am, not just through words, but through the sounds that have shaped me. I could easily fill three or four discs, but after a long process of choosing and cutting, I ended up with this one. Each track carries a story, a moment, a feeling, a part of me.
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Tracklist at the bottom
Track 1 begins with “Private Investigations” by Dire Straits, a song from an album my father gave me when I was about fourteen. He didn’t like it at all, said the songs were too long, too slow, too few. But when I played it, I was completely mesmerized. The album felt like a world of its own: dark, cinematic, masterfully played. That was the moment I fell in love with Dire Straits, and I’ve owned every album since. It also reminds me of my father, his taste may have been different, but he’s the one who unknowingly passed this music on to me.
From there, we move to Track 2, Ilse DeLange’s “World of Hurt.” Ilse came from Almelo, the same town I used to live in, and when she broke through with this song, it was like a small hometown victory. I’ve always had a soft spot for country and Americana, and this track hit me right away. Her sound has evolved over the years, but there’s always that touch of authenticity, that little bit of country soul that stays no matter what.
Track 3 is Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb.” I’ll admit, I didn’t always get Pink Floyd. When I was younger, it felt too abstract, too slow. But as I got older, it clicked. The structure, the atmosphere, and of course, David Gilmour’s guitar, it’s simply one of the most beautiful solos ever recorded. It’s one of those songs that completely swallows you; the world disappears and you’re just in it.
After that comes Track 4, Racoon, “Feel Like Flying.” Racoon is a Dutch band that started out in English before switching to Dutch years later, even though they once swore they’d never do that! I’ve always loved this particular track, playful, full of clever lyrics and wordplay. It’s one of those songs that makes you feel light, even when it’s saying something deeper.
Track 5, “Goodbye My Friend” by Karla Bonoff, hits me right in the heart. This one is personal. In 1994, I was watching Formula 1 live when Ayrton Senna crashed at Imola. I’d only been a fan for a year, but witnessing that moment left a huge mark on me. Years later, Dutch radio DJ Jeroen van Inkel released a Formula 1 tribute CD, and it ended with this song, including the heartbreaking commentary from that day. I will never forget the words of commentator Olav Mol, they are on that CD, and they still echo in my mind. A few years ago, I visited Imola and stood at the Tamburello corner where it happened. The emotions came flooding back. This song will forever be tied to that memory.
From deep sadness to something powerful and grand, Track 6, “Zeit” by Rammstein. For years I didn’t really pay attention to them, until my youngest daughter started listening. I gave it a chance and realized how layered and poetic their work actually is. We went to see them live together in Nijmegen, and it was incredible, the scale, the emotion, the unity of sound and spectacle. It’s a memory I’ll treasure forever, not just because of the show, but because I shared it with her.
Now we jump back to the 90s with Track 7, U.S.U.R.A.’s “Open Your Mind.” Back when I was going out to bars and clubs, you couldn’t escape tracks like this. But this one always stood out, that unmistakable guitar riff sampled from Simple Minds, “New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84),” and that voice from Total Recall (1990) saying, “Open your mind!” It’s music that feels like nostalgia itself. I’ve always been fascinated by samples, where they come from, how they’re reimagined, and I even made a few MiniDiscs myself filled with covers and their original versions. That’s how I like to listen, exploring, connecting dots, digging beneath the surface.
After that rush of dance nostalgia comes Track 8, Danny Vera, “Roller Coaster.” My brother asked me to join him at one of Danny’s shows, and I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting much. He’d become known from a TV show, and I thought, oh no, another celebrity trying to be a musician. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The man is pure talent. This song became his big breakthrough, and in 2019, right before COVID hit, he did a small campfire concert for about 50 people. It was on my birthday, September 3rd, and it was magic. Just him, his guitar, and pure emotion. That’s a night I’ll never forget.
Next is Track 9, Sarah McLachlan, “Angel.” I only discovered this song earlier this year, while searching for tracks that could test a Hi-Fi setup. According to some audio forums, it’s one of the best for that, and they were right. Her voice is crystal clear, vulnerable, and hauntingly beautiful. It’s a song that doesn’t just sound good, it feels good.
Then comes Track 10, The Who, “Overture.” In the Netherlands, this song has a special place. It became the base for the Top 2000 radio theme, an annual marathon broadcast that runs the last week of every year. It started in 1999 as a one-time millennium special, but now it’s a national event. They even build a Top 2000 Café where you can watch the DJs broadcast live, have a beer, and celebrate music together. The Top 2000 is always on in our house, a perfect mix of nostalgia and discovery.
After that, Track 11, I wanted to include something in my own language, “Binnen zonder kloppen” by De Dijk. It means, “Come in without knocking.” It’s a song full of warmth and openness, the kind that makes you sing along at the top of your lungs in the car. De Dijk has this way of combining strong lyrics with powerful melodies. And I think you’ll hear it, Dutch isn’t that far from German, after all.
Now for something a bit sunnier, Track 12, Young Gun Silver Fox, “Stevie & Sly.” I discovered this one thanks to Gerard Ekdom, a Dutch radio DJ who loves to share great music. One morning he said on air, “I want to play you something different, something special,” and then he played this track. I was blown away. Smooth, funky, perfectly produced, full of that 70s yacht rock energy I love. I immediately bought the album, this is the kind of modern music that still has soul.
Then we come to Track 13, Michael Jackson, “Heal the World.” I’ve been a fan of Michael since I was a kid. My dad even took me to see his movie back in the day. We all wanted to dance like him, some of us still try! His music remains timeless, and this song in particular feels as relevant as ever. It’s a gentle reminder that we all need to take care of each other, and of the world around us. That’s also what I love about this MiniDisc swap, the idea of connecting with someone across the world through music.
Then, Track 14, Stevie Ray Vaughan, “Tin Pan Alley.” Another discovery from my Hi-Fi adventures. I found this while looking for songs that really test a sound system, and what a song it is. The texture, the tone, his voice, that effortless guitar playing, it’s perfection. You can feel the blues breathing through every note.
Track 15, Imagine Dragons, “Sharks,” came to me through my oldest daughter. It’s not something I would normally pick myself, but the more I listened, the more I appreciated it. Seeing them perform and talk about the meanings behind their songs gave me a whole new perspective. It’s loud, emotional, and full of heart, and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.
Finally, Track 16, Kacey Musgraves, “Slow Burn.” I found her completely by accident, clicking around Apple Music one evening. I stumbled upon her Apple Music Live session and was instantly captivated. She’s one of those rare artists who sounds even better live than on her records. I respect that deeply. Her music has that Americana warmth I love, simple, honest, beautifully played. It felt like the perfect way to close this disc, calm, reflective, and full of quiet light.
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So that’s my MiniDisc, sixteen songs that tell a little of who I am. There’s a lot of variety here, but it all connects somehow, family, memories, emotion, and that endless love for music. Eighty minutes isn’t nearly enough to capture a lifetime of listening, but it’s a start. I hope that, as you listen, you’ll hear not just the songs, but the stories behind them, and maybe even a little piece of me in between the notes.
The full disk is also on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/playlist/1ztX0N4d1jVUSpbNU8RIbd?si=2bbf3c0032d74d93 [*]:
🎶 Getting to Know You
A MiniDisc by Olaf Kroezen – Fall 2025
1.Private Investigations – Dire Straits
2.World of Hurt – Ilse DeLange
3.Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd
4.Feel Like Flying – Racoon
5.Goodbye My Friend – Karla Bonoff
6.Zeit – Rammstein
7.Open Your Mind – U.S.U.R.A.
8.Roller Coaster – Danny Vera
9.Angel – Sarah McLachlan
10.Overture – The Who
11.Binnen zonder kloppen – De Dijk
12.Stevie & Sly – Young Gun Silver Fox
13.Heal the World – Michael Jackson
14.Tin Pan Alley – Stevie Ray Vaughan
15.Sharks – Imagine Dragons
16.Slow Burn – Kacey Musgraves